By SCOTT M. JOHNSON
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – Whether or not Seattle Seahawks quarterback Brock Huard will be available for Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders has become a day-to-day proposition. And it appears the decision will come down to the final day.
Huard didn’t practice Wednesday, and coach Mike Holmgren said he was leaning toward not playing the University of Washington product unless he practices by Friday.
“That’s what I’m saying right now,” Holmgren said. “Please, if all the sudden I have a bad dream Saturday night and decide to make the change anyway, don’t say, ‘Hey, you said … ‘”
Huard injured his groin in Sunday’s 37-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and is listed as questionable (50/50) for the game at Oakland. Jon Kitna took the snaps with the first team Wednesday and would start against the Raiders if Huard can’t go.
“We respect both quarterbacks,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “Kitna beat us last year in Seattle and put Seattle in position to beat us here in Oakland. He moved the team extremely well. We respect Jon Kitna a lot as a player and we’re going to prepare for both guys.”
Kitna started 25 consecutive games for the Seahawks before Holmgren benched him two weeks ago.
“I really hope Brock can play – for him, not for me,” Kitna said. “I want to play.”
Huard said he hopes to practice today, but said that Friday was the “big day” in terms of evaluating the injury.
The highlight of Holmgren’s Wednesday press conference came when a tape recorder on the table in front of him began to make a clicking sound.
“I don’t want to panic anyone, but something’s ticking up here,” said Holmgren, whose team is off to a 2-5 start. “I know we haven’t been real great the last couple weeks, but … .”
During Gruden’s conference call, he was asked how veteran receiver Tim Brown has managed to stay so good for so long.
“Well, it’s all coaching,” Gruden deadpanned.
Mayes, whose left middle finger was nearly separated at its tip by a Huard pass minutes before the Carolina game, expects to play Sunday – even though he is wearing a cumbersome splint on the injured finger.
“I’m going to catch better with one hand than most people in this league can catch with two,” Mayes said, “so I don’t worry about that.”
On the day that he was injured, Mayes was shown on national television arguing with Holmgren in an effort to get onto the field. He had stitches on the finger and suffered a slight fracture, but was pleading with Holmgren to play in the game anyway.
“I call it inquiring,” Mayes said of the discussion. “I’m going to inquire. It was in the heat of the damn battle. Emotions were going on. It’s probably for the best (not to play) because I was a wreck.”
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